July 05, 2012 - 2:36 AM
PRINCETON, B.C. - An outside police force has been called in to investigate a fatal crash Wednesday that followed a chase involving RCMP officers near Princeton, B.C.
Mounties in the Southern Okanagan and Similkameen began looking for a vehicle and a male driver following reports of a domestic aggravated assault in Osoyoos, B.C.
The RCMP says a first attempt to stop the vehicle safely failed and a subsequent pursuit was called off due to the suspect's dangerous driving and traffic conditions.
Other officers tried to stop the driver farther down Hwy. 3 , but the driver evaded the road check by manoeuvring along the shoulder and through ditches.
Although the vehicle was not pursued at that point, the unidentified driver crashed about one kilometre past the road check.
Officers found the vehicle overturned and on fire. Efforts to rescue the driver were unsuccessful and he was pronounced dead on the scene.
Under RCMP policy in B.C., an external police agency will investigate the collision and death.
Osoyoos RCMP are continuing an investigation into aggravated assault of a 62-year-old woman, who remains in hospital.
News from © The Canadian Press, 2012